PESACH, Types of Matzot, Part 2

4th of Nisan, 5770

As I’ve explained yesterday Matza Shemura -the Matza which is supervised from the beginning of the harvest- can be handmade or made by machine. The “pros” of a Matza which is made by machine is that machinery minimizes human errors, which regarding Chametz are a high probability, since Chametz – fermentation- is a process that happens by itself. The “cons” of machine Matza is that Matza must be made consciously for the purpose of fulfilling the Mitzvah of Matza. A minimum human “consciousness” is then required and the rabbis discussed if the consciousness/intention of the machine operator is enough or not for this purpose.

In our community it’s customary to use, whenever possible and affordable, handmade Matza Shemura, for the Sedarim. If not possible, then Matza Shemura made by machine is also fine for the Sedarim.

Matza Ashira: a dough made with wheat flower and pure fruit juice and or pure oil and or eggs and or honey, etc, anything BUT even a minimal amount of water, even when the dough ‘raises’ it’s not considered Chametz or fermentation. This product -cookies, cakes, etc- is called Matza Ashira. In the Ashkenazi tradition is known generically as “Egg Matza". In America they elaborate Matza Ashira/Egg Matza in the shape of Matzot, which creates a small confusion: some people might think that those Matzot can be used for the Seder, when technically speaking they are not consider Matzot.
Summarizing: Matza Ashira/egg Matza when certified Kosher for Pesach, can be consumed during Pesach eve and during Pesach but is not suitable for fulfilling the Mitzvah of Akhilat Matza in the Pesach Seder itself.

Shabbat Shalom!


DEAR FRIENDS: IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, BUY ISRAELI PRODUCTS FOR PESACH. ISRAELI WINE, ISRAELI MATZA, ISRAELI BABY FOOD, ETC. IT IS DELICIOUS, OF SUPERB QUALITY AND YOU WILL HAVE AN EXTRA ZEKHUT (merit) BY MAKING THIS STATEMENT OF LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR OUR BELOVED MEDINAT ISRAEL AND ITS INHABITANTS.

PESACH, Types of Matzot, Part 1

3rd of Nisan, 5770

Regular Matza is made from one of the five grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt) and water. The whole process, from the time the flour gets in contact with water until the Matza is baked ,takes less than 18 minutes. Regular Matza is supervised before the process of mixing the flour with the water begins, taking care that the flour is kept on a dry place (humidity can make the flour Chametz!) and that the water is at room temperature (warmer water will accelerate the process of Chimutz!) etc.

Matza Shemura, in addition to all the regulations of regular Matza, Matza Shemura is meticulously supervised from the harvest of the grain throughout the process of making the flour up to the baking of the actual Matzot. We use Matza Shemura for the first two nights, when we say the Berakha Al Akhilat Matza following a special Biblical instruction Ushmartem et haMatzot. During the rest of the Holyday there is no need to use Matza Shemura, because technically there is no obligation to eat Matza, but only to refrain from Chametz.

Abodat Yad is the Matza which is elaborated completely by hand. Pros: a certain ‘consciousness” is required when the Matza is done (Lishmah) for the sake of the Mitzvah, that is only possible when is man made. Cons: the chances of a human error in the delicate process of mixing the flour, timing, etc, are higher.

To be continued B’H tomorrow (Machine Matza and Egg Matza or Matza Ashira).

A SUGGESTION FOR MY DEAR FRIENDS: IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, BUY ISRAELI PRODUCTS FOR THIS PESACH. ISRAELI WINE, ISRAELI MATZA, ISRAELI BABY FOOD, ETC. IT IS DELICIOUS, OF SUPERB QUALITY AND YOU WILL HAVE AN EXTRA ZEKHUT (meryt) BY MAKING THIS STATEMENT OF LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR OUR BELOVED MEDINAT ISRAEL AND ITS INHABITANTS.

PESACH, Making kitchen appliances Kosher for Pesach

2nd day of Nisan, 5770

Dishwasher:

After you thoroughly clean the dishwasher, run it on an empty cycle without dishes but with detergent. Then the dishwasher becomes Kosher for Pesach. Rabbi Eliyahu Ben-Hayim (Shelita) recommends when possible to replace the dishwasher racks or to use some kind of an added base to cover the year round racks.

Oven:
The oven should not be used for 24 hours. Then you must clean it thoroughly and, if it is a self-cleaning oven, you run one self-cleaning cycle and the oven is Kosher for Pesach. If it is not a self-cleaning oven, after you thoroughly clean it, let the oven run on the highest temperature setting for approximately one hour, including the racks, then the oven is Kosher for Pesach.

Microwave:
Take a bowl of water, with some detergent or soap in it, and then to let it boil in the microwave until the microwave walls are filled with its steam. The vapor penetrates the walls rendering the microwave Kosher for Pesach. (If you can’t do this and you need to use a year round microwave, cover completely the food in a container or Ziploc products, Saran wrap or any other hermetic microwavable covers).

For any doubts or questions regarding making cookware, tableware etc, Kosher for Pesach consult a rabbinic authority or send an email to rabbibitton@hotmail.com

PESACH, HAGALAT KELIM, Part 2

Rosh Chodesh, 1st day of Nissan, 5770

Yesterday we explain that cookware or tableware used for Chametz should be replaced for Pesach or done Hag’ala.

Metal: All metal tableware like forks, spoons or knives should be thoroughly cleaned and then immersed for a few seconds in a pot of boiling water. Afterward, they need to be washed with cold water and then they can be used for Pesach.

Porcelain: Ceramic, pottery or porcelain china and tableware that we use throughout the year for Chametz are not suitable for Pesach. In other words Hag’ala does not sterilize them; therefore they cannot be used for Pesach.

Glass: is an exception and does not need Haga'la, because it is a sterile material. It does not absorb/expel any particles/flavor. So, according to the Sephardic tradition glass cookware, cups etc. that is used year round could be used for Pesach after washed thoroughly, without any further Hag’ala. (It should be noticed that this Halakha is radically different for the Ashkenazi custom)

Glass Baby Bottles should be washed thoroughly and can be used for Pesach.

Plastic baby bottles, plastic Sippy cups or any other plastic food containers, if they were used for cereal or other Chametz products, cannot be used for Pesach. But, if they were used for milk or juice and no Chametz was introduced in those bottles, they should be washed thoroughly and can be used for Pesach.

Needles to say, those who can afford it, prefer to use a completely different set of cookware and tableware, special for Pesach.

PESACH, HAG’ALAT KELIM Part 1

29th of Adar, 5770

If you cooked meat in a pot and after you cleaned it thoroughly you boiled water in it, the water will taste like meat. Why? Because although the pot’s surface is completely clean, when you cooked the meat, its walls’ pores opened and absorbed the meat flavor/particles in the first place. When you boiled water, the walls opened again, expelling the meat flavor into the water.

To avoid this type of flavor/particles transmission of Chametz food into food that will be consumed during Pesach, our rabbis instruct us to perform a process called Hag’ala (a type of sterilization). The Hag’ala will cause the pores to open and expel the absorbed flavor, making the utensil, not only superficially clean but “sterilized” for Pesach.

The principle of Hag’ala is that a utensil will expel the flavor/particles in the same way it absorbed it in the first place (kebol’o kakh polto). The way of doing Hag’ala will depend on two major variables: 1. The material of the utensil. 2. The way it is used. For example: pots and pans are made of the same material, metal, but a pot is used to cook with water and the pan with oil. The process of their Hag’ala is therefore different.

B’H In the coming Halakhot I’m going to explain some examples of Hag’ala when you want to use the year round utensils for Pesach.

Needles to say, that if one can afford it, the best advice is to use a completely different set of cookware and tableware, special for Pesach.